Nathalie and Michael

How We Met

Our love story began 9 years ago while we attended High School in Miami, Florida. Michael was a senior at Christopher Columbus High School and I was a sophomore at St. Brendan High School. He was 17 and I was 15. He played baseball with a mutual friend who eventually introduced us! It was love at first sight, there was no denying that every time I saw him I was nervous yet excited as can be. Needless to say, we were inseparable and after a couple of months he asked me to be his girlfriend on April 9, 2009 (the dates play out later on). We went through all our high school memories together; senior prom, graduation, baseball games, cheerleading competitions… the works! Michael went off to college in August 2009 to Manhattan, NY. We had a long distance relationship for about a year before he decided to move back to Miami. Even though this was the most challenging part of our relationship to date, it helped us grow as individuals and as a couple. On the weekend of our 8th year anniversary, he asked me to be his future wife, and well, the rest is history!

how they asked

A couple of months before our anniversary I had been telling Michael that I really wanted to plan a picnic for us, but I never came around to planning it. On Saturday, April 8, 2017 we went out to South Pointe Park in South Beach to the picnic that Michael had planned for our 8 year anniversary. We sat out on a ledge by the ocean, sipping our wine and just enjoying each other’s company. After about an hour, Michael decided it was time to exchange gifts. First, he gives me a Michele watch which I am fascinated about. Then, he says he had one more gift for me but I needed to stand up for that one. I proceed to stand up as he’s holding my hand telling me sweet, kind words about how much he loves me and that he’s always known I was the one for him. At this point, I am still oblivious as to what is about to happen. Michael got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife and partner for the rest of our lives! All I remember from that moment on was how stunned and happy I was. We hugged, we kissed, and we cried. This was a moment I had dreamed about since I was a young girl, and it finally became a reality… only it was better than a dream! One of Michael’s friends, Myki, popped out of the trees as he was taking pictures of our special moment, those pictures are priceless (my expression says it all).

After the proposal took place, we headed to our lunch reservations at Smith & Wollensky. We were greeted with complimentary champagne, and enjoyed a wonderful lunch with a beautiful view of the ocean. As soon as we finished lunch, Michael told me we were heading over to my house so that we could celebrate with our parents. Little did I know we were about to arrive to OUR engagement party. When we arrived at my house all of our families and friends were there to celebrate with us! We laughed, cried, celebrated, opened gifts, and took lots of pictures. Michael had planned this surprise engagement party so perfectly with the help of our families. They did a great job at keeping it a secret because I was completely clueless! It was better than I ever imagined and I could not believe how much thought and effort Michael had put into making this day one of the most special days of my life! Currently, we are enjoying our wedding planning and can’t wait to say I do! April will forever be a special month for us, OUR month of love. April 9 – our original anniversary April 8 – the day he asked & I said YES April 7 – the BEST DAY EVER.